Use of a wildlife corridor by desert mule deer

We examined the efficacy of a mitigation project in Avra Valley Arizona, es tablished to provide wildlife access across the barrier created by a canal, the Central Arizona Project (CAP). We monitored movements of 17 radio-coll ared desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus eremicus) to determine if deer w ere using the corridor for access across the canal and the 26-km wide valle y We also determined frequency of corridor use by desert mule deer relative to surrounding lands. Four deer crossed the canal but stayed within 500 m of the crossing site. One deer traversed the valley via the corridor. Two o f these deer used crossing areas not in the designated corridor. Overall, 2 2.4% of deer locations were in the corridor. The corridor currently serves as a link with other undeveloped lands to provide movement for animals seek ing to cross Avra Valley, but some lands outside the corridor are scheduled for development for agriculture. With increasing pressures from an urban p opulation, the corridor may prove to be of greater value in the future.